Queen Elizabeth I created the Gingerbread man

Ginger is a vegetable that wears many different hats, it can be used to soothe upset stomachs, add a kick to your favorite dishes (hello gingersnaps!), and boost your immune system. This vegetable packs a punch filled with a plethora of antioxidants. Keep reading to learn more about this superfood!

1. It is commonly used to treat nausea, menstrual pain, arthritis symptoms, and can lower cholesterol. 
2. It is not a root vegetable; it is a rhizome. A rhizome is an underground plant stem.
3. Ginger is indigenous to Southeast Asia, which is why it is frequently utilized in Asian cuisine.  
4. The rhizomes are harvested after 10-12 months. 
5. The best time to plant it is in late winter or early spring. It is grown in subtropical climates. 
6. There are over 1,600 species of ginger flowers. Many of them are used in floral arrangements or used as ornamental garden plants. 
7. Aframomum giganteum is a species in the ginger family that grows up to 20 feet tall. 
8. It is said to be one of the first spices to be exported from Asia. It was traded to Europe as a part of the spice trade. 
9. India is the world's top producer of ginger, followed by Nigeria and China. 
10. The rhizome has been mentioned in many ancient religious texts such as the Bible, Quran, and the Talmud.
11. It can be traced back at least 5,000 years. Its properties were used as Ayurvedic medicine in India and traditional Chinese medicine.
12. Queen Elizabeth I was the creator of the Gingerbread man, she had them shaped to resemble the visitors of her court. 
13. During the Middle Ages, you could trade one pound of ginger for a live sheep.
14. Hawaii is the only state where ginger is grown on a large commercial scale. 
15. Tumeric is also a part of the ginger family. 
16. Its unique smell and flavor come from essential oils and the compound "gingerol."
17. It is estimated that the average Indian consumes 8-10 grams of ginger a day. 

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Sources:

That's it  

World Mapper

Australian NaturalCare  

Tasty Bite  

Hunker